Sweden

Sweden is a large and beautiful country. Thanks to the rich deposits of iron ore, forests and vast hydropower resources as well as the commitment of the employees of the present day, Sweden has become one of the richest and most modern and highly industrialized countries in the world. At present, Sweden ranks above average in almost all dimensions: environmental quality, civic engagement, education and skills, work-life balance, health status, personal well-being, jobs and earnings, housing, personal safety, and social relations.

Sweden can still boast the same beautiful nature as during the days of the Vikings. Swedes are good at making the best of the natural environment with a variety of outdoor activities such as skiing, sailing, and ice skating.

CHILDREN

Family life in Sweden is easy. With a state paid child allowance, kindergarden is affordable. There are also a lot of sports and other extra curricular activities for children as Sweden is one of the most child friendly countries in the world.

GETTING AROUND

Even though Sweden is the third largest country in Western Europe, travelling within Sweden makes it feel as if you are in one of the smaller countries in Europe. The infrastructure and roads are highly developed making travelling both time efficient and safe.

All roads are public and free of charge. There is an extensive, fast and reliable train network with cheap and environmentally friendly transportation within the country. Other European capitals are easily reached by low cost air carriers or by train.

PIONEERS IN TECHNOLOGY

Sweden can boast no fewer than 8 Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine. The USA is the first with 86 Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine, but remember Sweden´s population is just 1/30th of the United States!

SWEDISH HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

Sweden is widely known for its welfare state. Health care in Sweden is largely tax-funded.

All Swedes have equal access to healthcare services. Sweden's health care system is organized and managed on three levels: national, regional and local, which is why the responsibility for health and medical care in Sweden is shared by the central government, county supervisors and municipalities. The system is informally divided into 7 sections: "Close-to-home care" (primary care clinics, maternity care clinics, out-patient psychiatric clinics, etc.), emergency care, elective care, in-patient care, out-patient care, specialist care, and dental care.

Compared with other countries at a similar development level, the system performs well, with a high level of medical success in relation to investment. Sweden spends approximately 11,93% of GDP on health care.

The health care is governed by the 21 county councils. Regulations, waiting times and patient fees vary in the different counties, as do the rates of taxation.

EDUCATION

Daycare centres

Parents who work or study may apply for their child/children if they are 12 months or older to be taken in at a local authority daycare centre ("förskola") or a family day nursery ("familjedaghem"), in which a person is employed by the local authority to take care of the children in their own home.

Charges are on a sliding scale based on the parents' income, but the maximum charge is at present SEK 1,313/month for a child aged 0-3. By law, all municipalities in Sweden are required to offer daycare for all children within the municipality.

The school system

School is compulsory between the ages of 7 and 16. There are nine grades in all, and at the lower levels there is normally one class teacher for all subjects, whereas at the upper level there are normally different teachers for different subjects. The school year runs for forty weeks starting in mid-august and has two semesters and a ten-week summer holiday.

Education and all teaching materials are provided free of charge and free school meals are served.

The school system in Sweden consists of:

Preschool Class ("förskola") for children up to 6 years of age. Preschool is offered to all children in Sweden

Compulsory Comprehensive School ("grundskola") for children 7-16 years of age, grades 1-9

Children between 6 and 13 are also offered out-of-school care before and after school hours.

Upper Secondary School ("gymnasium"), grades 10-12, is not compulsory; however, it is a prerequisite if a student wants to study at the university level

Also, higher education is free of charge and courses at the universities are available in many languages.

Immigrant children in the Swedish school system have the right to receive instruction in Swedish as a foreign language as well as separate instruction in their mother tongue if that language is spoken daily in their home.